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PERCEPTION SPORT Sunrise 100 Kayak

Perfect for entry-level paddlers, the Perception Sport Sunrise 100 provides worry-free manageability and easy handling to make it an ideal choice for children or smaller adults looking to paddle calm water.

Features/Benefits:

Padded seat with adjustable backrest offers comfort and support

Keepers foot brace system allows for quick and easy adjustment for leg length

Bungee deck rigging is perfect for holding a small dry bag

Thigh and knee padding ensures that you stay comfortable no matter how long you’re on the water

I was looking for something to get out on to the local lakes. I wanted something Easy to get in and out of, Stable, and does not break the bank. Being 6'2" 240lbs I can tell you that this boat has plenty of room for even the larger paddlers looking to start out. I am very happy with this boat.

I was looking for a good quality kayak to purchase so I could paddle around a nearby lake. I wanted to go with a company that had a solid reputation, and after reading hundreds of reviews of various kayaks I decided on Perception kayaks. At first I couldn't find a store that had Perception kayak models with high ratings from reviewers, until I checked EMS. I saw they had the sunrise model for $100 off, and it had good reviews online. I stopped by a local EMS, and they were sold out of the Perception Sunrise in orange, which I wanted after seeing how much darker it was in reality vs. the picture from online. Luckily they received a shipment the next day, and EMS employees were kind enough to put one of the orange sunrise model kayaks on hold. They even helped carry it out to my car.

---2.Good product design;

This kayak is very wide, and as a result very stable & very easy to enter and exit. The hull design allows a good amount of maneuverability, both inside the cockpit and on the water, plus there is plenty of room behind the seat for storage which is accessible via a hatch. The adjustable seat and foot pegs are great, the seat is very comfortable and the foot pegs really help with getting a good fit in the kayak. There is padding along the opening of the cockpit, presumably to avoid scrapes when entering/exiting the kayak, which is a nice feature to have.

---3.Product notes;

I bought the orange Sunrise model because it was the only kayak with a solid color (which I prefer over "splashed" color themes), the orange was actually darker than the EMS site shows and I personally thought it looked more appealing.

This kayak is very wide and stable which makes it a good fishing kayak, but you will need an anchor because it has a larger surface area than other kayaks and will be pushed around by wind.

The handles on the front/back make pulling the kayaking into/from the water much easier.

The cup holder is great for holding a water bottle.

The foot pegs are easy to adjust, but can be tricky if you haven't gotten used to the kayak yet.

There is no dry hatch.

The hatch behind the seat (stern hatch), has a large rubber cover, which can be difficult to fully seal back into place. I am still not sure why there is such a solid sealing rubber cover, when the compartment is open to the rest of the boat. It could probably be turned into a dry hatch with some acrylic sheet and silicone to turn it into an isolated compartment.

---4.Summary;

For what I paid (~$400), I got a very stable,affordable,comfortable and durable kayak that I plan on spending many years enjoying.

Light enough for petite woman to carry, stable on water, and easy to get in and out of. Easy to adjust seat and feet rest. Exceptional value and well worth the money for recreational kayaking. Excellent for beginners also.

I wanted an inexpensive, durable kayak to paddle around with my medium sized dog. This completely fits the bill. It is sturdy, stable and easy to maneuver with ample room to accommodate me and my pup. An added bonus is that it slides right into my SUV so no need for a roof rack. The reason I did not give it five stars is because the "hatch" is a tease...I wish it truly had a dry storage space...that would make it perfect!

I wanted a kayak that I could carry by myself and one that would fit in the back of my Subaru Outback. I didn't want to have to strap it on the top of the car every time I went out for a short paddle. I'm not the biggest or strongest woman around, but I'm able to move this kayak on my own. It tracks well and glides nicely through the water. I'm very happy with it so far!

My husband and I recently purchased a pair of these kayaks after our much beloved and more expensive kayaks were stolen. I can say that we love our little "sunrises" as much, if not more, than our previous kayaks. They are stable, track well and are extremely comfortable and light-weight. We are recreational kayakers much more interested in scenery and exercise rather than thrills and spills. These boats are a great value and we were able to purchase a pair of sunrises for the cost of one of our original boats (OT Dirigio). There is no dry hatch but we rarely go overnight but we think we could with good dry bags. Great kayaks!

Very nice and affordable kayak. I share this with my 12 year old daughter and it is adjustable to fit either of us comfortably. (I'm 200 lbs, and she's 75 wet) It tracks pretty well going near-upwind and off the wind. But going with or near-with the wind, it gets squirrley due the stern getting pushed around. I think this was more of a wave effect (I paddle in a bay which can generate 6" to 12" chop... probably just the perfect size to impact the kayak), than a wind effect. Overall, we're very happy with this kayak and foresee many years of enjoyment.